MASSOB, IPOB berate Ohanaeze Ndigbo over reconciliation move

Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday, berated Ohanaeze Ndigbo over its move for peace and reconciliation as recently directed by the South East governors and Igbo leaders.

Criticising the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation for its invitation for peace, reconciliation and security of Igboland, the groups stressed that it was an indication that its promoters were not serious in their assignment.

At their meeting in Enugu last month, the South East governors and Igbo leaders had directed the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up committees to reconcile grievances in Igboland within 10 days.

As a way of actualising the mandate, Ohanaeze Ndigbo had inaugurated a reconciliation committee comprising over 50 Igbo from the National Assembly, serving ministers, traditional rulers, clerics, technocrats and businessmen last week in Enugu.

Consequently, the committee had invited members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) set up by IPOB and Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to be part of the peace process.

They also invited Biafra National Guard (BNG), Biafran Zionists Movement (BZM) and other regional organisations and associations in the zone, insisting that it wanted total peace and harmony in Igboland.

The Guardian, however, learnt that IPOB leaders were excluded from the reconciliation move because the Federal Government had proscribed it and branded it a terrorist group.

It was also learnt that the committee had already embarked on wide consultations with stakeholders and leaders of the South East region and the entire Igbo in the Diaspora.

But reacting to the invitation yesterday, leader of MASSOB, Uchenna Madu insisted that extending a public invitation to it over an Igbo internal security affair was not acceptable to the group.

Madu stated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo should be sensitive and diplomatic in their approach to issues that border on Igbo interest in Nigeria, adding that the South East region should avoid anything that would make Abuja political cabal to hijack any effort that would redeem Ndigbo from subjective slavery in Nigeria.

He added that MASSOB, as a stakeholder in Igbo project would always align with relevant groups and individuals to protect and secure the future of Ndigbo, stressing that securing the life and property of its people was paramount and cautioned Ohanaeze Ndigbo against playing politics with the future of the region.

Also, Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful, said the group had continued to suffer following the last engagement its leaders had with Igbo leaders in 2017.

“They betrayed us, but we shall address the matter appropriately including the reason for not inviting IPOB leadership to the peace parley, but preferred to invite our ESN,” he said.